HI, My Girlfriend has RSD of the cervical spine,does anyone on here has RSD of the cervical spine,if you do what is your symptoms.

Thank You,
Bob

Hi Bob,

I've just noticed there's a Rob123 on the BT forum with cervical spine RSD himself...is it you or your girlfriend with RSD?...

Anyway, here's what I wrote before I noticed that..
I'm sorry to hear about your girlfriend's diagnosis; I have never come across RSD of the cervical spine before. How did it start, where does it cause pain and how does it present itself?

I have both spinal stenosis and cervical spondylosis, C4 - C6, which are problematic but so far in check - they give me a severe stiff neck, permanent headache and limited head movement.

But worse cases of both result in pinched nerves, due to the continuing narrowing of space within the bone structures themselves, thus crowding out and putting pressure on the spinal cord and main nerve roots. The worsening of both conditions causes severe peripheral neuropathy and a host of other nerve conditions, usually affecting the arms and eventually the legs.But the actual site of the problem (whether it's C1 or C7, for example) will affect different areas of the body, since each set of nerve roots "controls" the nerve paths to different areas.

Symptoms of these conditions can be very similar to RSD, so I'd be interested in hearing more about how they determined the diagnosis of RSD rather than any of the other problems caused by neck bone problems.

The large majority of us have RSD in either arms or legs, for some it has spread to the organs or the whole body.

But no, haven't heard of it in the spine, it would be interesting to hear more about this...
all the best,

Hi Bob,

Where else does your girlfriend have RSD? Anywhere?

I ask because I started with RSD in my right hand to elbow, it then went to my shoulder up the side of my neck. It then went into my left arm etc, but not nearly as severe.

The accident sprained my neck also & I developed a lot of neck spasms & headaches for a few years, then I had a 2nd MRI which showed a broad-based disc bulge, very close to pressing on a nerve root, and the left side of my neck.

I've often wondered if my RSD had actually spread into my neck because, like my arm, shoulder, & hand, if any little cool air touches my neck anywhere it causes me pain. My neck is in spasms so much it hurts all the time. I don't recall having burning there, like I do my arms, and also not as much pins & needles as my arms. So, I don't know if I have it in my neck. The doctors I go to are not familiar with RSD, so they aren't very helpful.

But I bring this up because on this forum I discovered a site by Dr. H. Hooshman. He states that when CRPS/RSD starts in a hand, for instance, it travels up the nerves all the way into the spine going into the head. (I can't remember all the exact medical wording). But this, he said, can cause occipital headaches (which I've had severly) and affect vision and hearing. Both, also, that I've had problems with but didn't know why!

I don't know how to add a link (sorry, computer challenged), but maybe someone can post it here for you.

Hang in there with your girlfriend! Encouragement is a big plus to getting better!

Denise

Hello Bob,

I haven't heard of it specifically in the neck only before either.
There are no symptoms of RSD or any pain, anywhere else?

LINKS-
There's many links up in our sticky above - and Dr Hooshman's is there too.

H. Hooshmand, M.D.-
http://www.rsdrx.com/index.html

I 'll post the useful sites sticky link here for you -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=247

Hi, THANK YOU ALL for your replies, and my girlfriend RSD started in her Right Foot in 1990 and in 2002 she injured her cervical spine,when she was riding a fourwheeler and she flew over the handlebars and landed on the cement patio behind her house,and at the time she was not wearing a helmet,she was taking to the ER Department and they said that she had a Compression fracture and Ligamentous Rupture. Her neurosurgeon told her recently that she may have RSD in her cervical spine because of the burning pain and reddness of her skin,and she's very hypersensitive when the Doctor tried to touch her skin at the back of her neck area,so he sent her to a Doctor who specializes in pain and RSD,and he look over everything and told her that her RSD spread when she injured her cervical spine.

Bob

Bob,

You must discuss this with Rob123 on Braintalk, who also had a "compression Fracture of C5 and Ligamentous Ruptured at C4-5" when he fell down a flight of stairs. You two should have a lot to talk about between yourself.

Many of us are members of BT also and are aware of posts made on both forums in the RSD, spinal and chronic pain sections of both.

Hey Rob123, Artist said that you and I should discuss the condition that my girlfriend when she flipped the fourwheeler.Rob any information would be helpful!!!

Thanks,
Bob

I have a similar story, as my RSD started in my foot, went away, and is back - but mine started this time in my shoulder and went across the top of my back, up my neck, into my other shoulder, and is now going down my back. So I have it in the same area, but mine has spread and now includes more area. I replied to Rob on the other forum with a long post.

I am not sure if I am allowed to copy and paste my reply here, or link you to that post or not (as far as posting rules go)

My pain is way up this weekend, or I would try to re-word it here for you.

Perhaps someone who know for sure if I can link you over to that post on the other forum will reply. Some forums don't allow you to do things like that, and a very quick look around here did not really tell me. If I was feeling up to it, I would have looked longer, but typing/mousing is not the easiest for me today.

You have come to the right place, this is the best forum!

Jules

Hi Bob, I have rsd in cervical and thoriac spine. I have perfectly clear MRI. Not even arthritis. Which is amazing after years of riding horses and competing. I would be in perfect health if I didnt have RSD. which I have full body.But forgive me- back to your question, how does it present in terms of pain? My thoraic spine is crippling pain, level 8, I can't stand for over a half hour , bend, etc. wears out with activity and then severe bone pain kicks in. I have to be careful to prevent flare ups and take it easy- take alot of breaks and sit down. I
As the day progresses severe burning on either side of my spine and then a rash follows the doctors call it a pain rash, basically the body screaming out from the pain, it runs up and down on either side of my spine.I try putting a back brace on, up very high, but it doesnt really help. The only thing that does are the meds which Ii hate to have to take.

My neck is a horror story.. terrible pain,weakness and in the morining neck immobility. My husband has to lift me out of bed as my neck is in too much pain to support the weight of my head. I was convininced for a while that it must be something else horrible like MS or ALS but as usual it turned out to be the continuing rage and damage or RSD.

As the day progresses , I guess from being upright and taking my meds, it improves til about 4 oclock by which time the weakness and pain sets in again and it becomes diffucult to hold my head up-so I put a neck brace on til bed. Then the whole drill begins over again the next day.
For me is progressive. It is getting worse with each passing day. Its terrifying.
I also have a frozen left shoulder. Which complicates things in the am. Sorry I cant post anything more positvie. I am begining tiggerpoint for my shoulder hoping to have some relief and the hyperbaric chamber next week as so many people seem to have been helped. I have tried everything else.

Good luck to you, I have read spent alot of time on the iternet trying to find th best relief for the neck. the only recurring recommendation I have found is triggerpoint injections which I have never had before. I will let you know how it goes. Take Care. CZ

Linking to other posts is allowed and also copying your own posts from other sites and adding them here.
It is suggested to not copy the posts of others though.

the guidelines link-
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=1293

and this clarifies the linking -
Changes from 9/25/06 version:

- Clarified linking to other sites -- making it clear we're most interested in people not using our community to solicit others to join their community. Links to anything are okay as long as you're not doing it to solicit members to another online community.